SPAL vs Bologna
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Today’s featured game is the Serie A encounter between SPAL and Bologna.
Was it just me who was completely gobsmacked by SPAL’s turnaround in Bergamo on Monday night? I figured SPAL might give Atalanta Bergamo a few headaches because of the number of former Dea players on SPAL’s books, but I didn’t think they’d actually win! I guess that shows that the hosts have some distance to go before they can legitimately consider themselves to be challengers for the Scudetto. Fancy it being Petagna to do the damage though – has he even scored against anyone but his former club since joining SPAL?! Football’s a funny old game sometimes.
I don’t think I’m jumping the gun by backing SPAL today. It’s certainly not based off of their win in Bergamo, although I won’t deny that the momentum does help. It’s more to do with the simple facts of Serie A football. In order to stave off relegation, there are games that can be won and games that are write-offs, which is something Parma could do with learning about, given their odd decision to rest players against AS Roma for their away game against Juventus(!).
A team like SPAL isn’t good enough to win many matches. They’ve got to make the most of their home games, and hosting a Bologna side that not only leaves themselves open via attacking football but a Bologna side that is missing a raft of defenders seems decidedly opportune to me. I still don’t think it’ll be easy for SPAL because they don’t have good enough players to make games ‘easy’, really. They pride themselves on their work-rate, tenacity, and organisation, which is why they plunder as many cast-offs as they can from Atalanta Bergamo.
Subsequently, my expectation is that SPAL will treat this match as if it were a Cup final. If they don’t, they’re skating on thin ice in terms of surviving in Serie A. You have to bear in mind that this team wins games by keeping the ball well and taking their chances. They’re not the kind of outfit that creates lots of opportunities per game. They’re the kind of team that gets bent out of shape if they can’t keep the ball. They barely even have a presentable counter-attack, SPAL. No, it’s all got to be about them manipulating the ball and winning by attrition. Fortunately for us, Bologna is the perfect opponent for them to do it against.
I like Bologna. I like their boss, Mihajlovic. However, as is always the case, his teams play all-or-nothing football. All the outspoken Serbian will accept from his players is 100% commitment to the cause. His teams are generally prone to red card, high-scoring games, and entertaining football – and Bologna are no different. In many ways, Bologna and Mihajlovic are the perfect match for one another. I still don’t see the ‘marriage’ lasting because nothing about these two beasts has an air of permanence but whilst they’re in harmony, Bologna are relatively predictable.
Their last game versus Hellas Verona was the ultimate Mihajlovic display. They worked hard, fought their way into the lead, had a man unnecessarily sent off, got battered, and conceded a late equaliser from a Borini header. Although it was very annoying for the fella that backed Bologna (me!), I had to laugh. I mean, who else would Borini win headers against but Bologna?
Bologna’s style is to bring chaos. They’ve got speed, creativity, dribblers, and lots of experience. As an attacking outfit, they should be taken very seriously. However, they look like a fish out of water if they can’t play their preferred style. Bologna cannot defend well so if they’re placed under the cosh by a team with better tactics, they’ll struggle.
Now, I don’t for one second believe that SPAL will engage Bologna in an open game because that’s got ‘kamikaze’ etched all over it. Instead, I can see SPAL playing a patient game and forcing Bologna into a game of chess, which is what SPAL prefer. If that happens, Bologna are in a real bind because not only are they not good at it but they’re also missing lots of defenders. I think it’s going to take a massively impressive Bologna display for them to win against SPAL today, to be frank, and although it’s not impossible, I do think it’s unlikely at this moment in time.
Therefore, as long as SPAL bring their A game, they should get at least a draw from this match, and most probably a win, hence my tip.
Verdict: SPAL to win with draw no bet at evens.
Saturday’s Thoughts
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
Australian A-League:
Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar
Melbourne City vs Perth Glory
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Sporting Charleroi vs KV Mechelen
Royal Excel Mouscron vs Sint-Truiden
Waasland-Beveren vs AS Eupen
AA Gent vs Racing Genk
English FA Cup:
Brentford vs Leicester City
West Ham United vs West Bromwich Albion
Burnley vs Norwich City
Newcastle United vs Oxford United
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
Millwall vs Sheffield United
Hull City vs Chelsea
Finnish Suomen Cup:
FC Honka Espoo vs HIFK
HJK vs TPS
FC Lahti vs Ilves
RoPS vs SJK
Ekenas IF vs Gnistan
Haka Valkeakoski vs KuPS
MP vs MyPa
KPV vs AC Oulu
Inter Turku vs IFK Mariehamn
Jaro Pietarsaari vs Kajaani
VPS vs SJK-Akatemia
French Ligue 1:
Olympique de Marseille vs Angers SCO
Stade Brestois vs Amiens SC
Stade de Reims vs Metz
AS Saint-Etienne vs Nimes Olympique
AS Monaco vs Racing Club Strasbourg
Montpellier HSC vs Dijon FCO
German Bundesliga:
Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig
SC Freiburg vs Paderborn 07
Borussia Moenchengladbach vs Mainz 05
Union Berlin vs Augsburg
VfL Wolfsburg vs Hertha Berlin
Bayern Munich vs Schalke 04
Hungarian Liga 1:
Ferencvaros vs Paksi SE
Fehervar vs Budapest Honved
Mezokovesd-Zsory vs Varda SE
Zalaegerszegi TE vs Diosgyori VTK
Kaposvari Rakoczi vs Puskas FC
Debreceni VSC vs Ujpest
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Hapoel Kfar Saba vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Ironi Kiryat Shmona vs Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Hapoel Haifa vs Hapoel Ra’anana
Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs MS Ashdod
Italian Serie A:
SPAL vs Bologna
ACF Fiorentina vs Genoa
Torino vs Atalanta Bergamo
Italian Serie B:
Cittadella vs Benevento
Pisa vs Juve Stabia
Pordenone vs Pescara
Virtus Entella vs Cremonese
Salernitana vs Cosenza
Dutch Eredivisie:
SC Heerenveen vs AZ Alkmaar
Heracles Almelo vs Feyenoord Rotterdam
RKC Waalwijk vs VVV Venlo
Sparta Rotterdam vs Fortuna Sittard
Spanish Primera Liga:
RCD Espanyol vs Athletic Club
Valencia CF vs Barcelona CF
Deportivo Alaves vs Villarreal CF
Sevilla CF vs Granada CF
Swiss Super League:
Neuchatel Xamax vs Servette
FC Zurich vs FC Luzern
Swiss Challenge League:
Stade Lausanny-Ouchy vs Aarau
SC Kriens vs Winterthur
Turkish Super Lig:
Kayserispor vs Ankaragucu
Kasimpasa vs Alanyaspor
Fenerbahce vs Istanbul BB
Enjoy your free betting tips!